Zachary Hutchinson, Illegally Armed, Indiana 2020

Firearm in Plain View

INDIANAPOLIS – In a shocking display of disregard for the law, Zachary Hutchinson, a 39-year-old Indianapolis resident and convicted felon, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on September 22, 2020, parole agents with the Indiana Parole Agency and officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department conducted an unannounced home visit at Hutchinson’s residence. At the time of the visit, Hutchinson was on active parole for a felony battery conviction in 2010.

When agents identified themselves and knocked, Hutchinson opened the front door. Almost immediately, agents saw a handgun lying in plain view on top of the couch located directly behind Hutchinson in arm’s reach. Recognizing the danger, agents instructed Hutchinson to place his hands behind his back. However, Hutchinson took several quick steps backward toward the sofa, began reaching toward the handgun and stated, “Kill me now.”

Agents safely detained Hutchinson. During a search of Hutchinson’s person, they located a cigarette box in his front left pants pocket that contained approximately two grams of methamphetamine. In Hutchinson’s bedroom, investigators also located a 12-gauge shotgun in a case.

At the time of his arrest, Hutchinson had nine felony convictions in the state of Indiana, including for strangulation, battery, residential entry, robbery, and resisting law enforcement. This shocking display of disregard for the law has left many in the community wondering how Hutchinson was able to continue his life of crime.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers stated, “This defendant’s many felony convictions and years served in jail have not deterred him from continuing to illegally arm himself. Illegally armed felons are a preventable source of the gun violence that threatens our neighborhoods and takes far too many lives.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Hutchinson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and be subject to a $900 fine. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kyle M. Sawa, who prosecuted this case.

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